How to take care of an obese child
Children who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of becoming obese teenagers and adults. Therefore, it is necessary to have an appropriate plan to care for overweight and obese children according to each stage and development. If your child is at risk or in a state of obesity, follow today’s article by Brighton.
1. Causes of childhood obesity
To provide appropriate care for children with obesity, we need to assess the causes of this condition. Children become overweight or obese for a variety of reasons, such as genetic factors, inactivity, unhealthy eating, or a combination of these. Only in rare cases is being overweight caused by a medical condition such as a hormonal problem and requires a careful medical examination.
Although overweight and obesity run in families, not all children with a family history of obesity experience the condition. Children whose parents or siblings are overweight may increase the risk but are often accompanied by unhealthy eating and living habits. Timely adjustment to a healthy diet and lifestyle is the best way to care for obese children.
2. How to take care when children are obese
The doctor is the person who helps set an overall healthy weight goal and plan the care of overweight and obese children. However, the guidance and practice of measures to care for obese children cannot lack the role of parents.
Refer to the following ways to care for children with obesity:
- Set appropriate weight loss goals for your child. The goal should be to lose weight in small steps so that the child is not discouraged or overwhelmed, losing from 0.5 – 2kg/month is reasonable. In some cases, it is possible to control the weight of the child so that he does not gain more so that the growth of height catches up with the weight.
- Another much-needed measure of care for obese children is to get them in the habit of keeping a meal diary. This diary not only includes the type and amount of food eaten but also where it was eaten and who else was present. The diary is not to help calculate calories eaten, rather it helps identify problematic eating patterns and foods.
- A healthy diet to lose weight for children with overweight and obesity is also essential, establishing a diet sometimes requires the participation of a doctor and nutritionist.
- Similar to adults, exercise is a way of caring when children are obese. Practice should also start with gentle activities and gradually increase to avoid discouraging children. Activity up to 20 to 30 minutes a day, creating fun, diversifying activities to increase children’s interest in exercise.
- If your family’s habits are not scientific, focus on gradually changing exercise and eating habits. By getting the whole family involved, everyone is taught healthy habits and kids don’t feel alone when they follow parenting measures to care for an obese child.
3. Should a child weight loss program be applied?
If your home remedies for obesity haven’t been successful in helping your child reach a healthy weight and your doctor thinks your child’s health is in jeopardy unless they lose weight steadily, you may want to: Consider a formal weight loss program. The overall goal of a weight loss program should be to help the whole family adopt healthy eating habits and be physically active.
When planning to care for an overweight or obese child with a weight loss program, the following points should be kept in mind:
- Before enrolling in a program, your child’s weight, growth, and health should be reviewed by your doctor’s overall health.
- A child’s weight loss program must be established and supervised by medical professionals from nutritionists to pediatricians, and even psychologists.
- Focus on behavioral changes for children and parents must be exemplary. Teach children how to choose a variety of healthy foods in appropriate portions and increase their daily activities.
- Apply a weight loss program appropriate to each child’s age and health status.
- Care plan for overweight and obese children
- Physical activity is an essential element in the care plan for overweight and obese children
4. Prevention of overweight and obesity in children
If parents don’t want the headache of having to plan for their overweight and obese children, people can do the following things to prevent obesity:
- Make sure your child’s meals are healthy with 30% or less of their energy from fat.
- Respect children’s appetite, do not force them to eat too much.
- Each serving should be spaced at least 15 minutes apart.
- Minimize the use of salty foods and sugary drinks.
- Limit the number of high-energy foods kept in the home.
- Provide enough fiber in meals, and prepare fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Replace whole milk with skim by the time your child is 2 years old.
- Do not watch TV during meals.
- Encourage your child to be physically active.
Currently, the rate of overweight and obesity in children is constantly increasing. If your child is overweight or obese, no matter what care you choose, the ultimate goal is to lead your child to a healthy lifestyle. Concentrate as much as possible on changing the behavior of all family members to set an example for your child. If you feel overwhelmed, parents can seek the help of a nutritionist or doctor for guidance in setting up a plan to care for overweight and obese children most safely.
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